The preamble and 30 articles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) were formulated in such way as to underscore the universality of our common humanity. Consequently, this new paradigm and preferred values of the international community were clear. The mother of all human rights instruments ensured that all relativism was avoided. The UDHR became acceptable for every religion, every philosophy and every culture. The universality of human rights was re-affirmed in the Vienna Declaration of 1996.

The impunity in the perpetration, among others, of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture since the Marcos dictatorship to the Maguindanao massacre is reinstating a universal practice which precedes the principles of the UDHR and the international covenants: that of the lex talionis!

Impunity is an indicator of regression in our constitutional value of human dignity. It negates the notion of the universality of our common humanity and dignity as human beings.

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) denounces the perpetration and perpetuation of these human rights violations in exchange for the imperatives of holding on to political and economic power.

PAHRA believes that the impunity against civil and political rights, particularly the right to suffrage, is deeply rooted in the impunity against the economic, social and cultural rights of the people.

PAHRA calls for the formation of human rights defenders in all communities, territorial levels, institutions and sectors to struggle for all human rights for all, break through impunity and obtain justice and dignity for all of us.

December 9, 2009
International Day of Protest Against Impunity in the Philippines